Effect of Ketogenic Diet on Athletic Performance of Men's Basketball Players in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia

Abstract

This study examines how male collegiate basketball players in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, experienced and interpreted the adoption of a ketogenic diet (KD) within the demands of team-based, high-intensity sport. Moving beyond performance metrics, the research adopts a phenomenological design informed by social constructivism and the biopsychosocial model to understand how dietary practices are embedded within social, cultural, and athletic contexts. KD is therefore approached not merely as a metabolic intervention, but as a lived practice negotiated within training routines, team norms, and everyday life. Data were collected between February and April 2025 through semi-structured interviews supplemented by contextual questionnaires. Thematic analysis revealed that dietary adaptation unfolded as a phased and relational process. Participants commonly described an initial period marked by perceived reductions in explosiveness, fluctuating energy, and mood instability. For some, these experiences gave way to greater perceived energy steadiness, heightened bodily awareness, and improved self-regulation during moderate training loads. However, high-intensity efforts and late-session demands remained challenging for several athletes. Social dynamics—particularly shared meals and a carbohydrate-dominant food culture—significantly shaped adherence and meaning-making around the diet. The findings suggest that the perceived value of KD cannot be understood independently of role expectations, team structures, and cultural eating practices. Rather than producing uniform performance outcomes, KD functioned as a context-sensitive strategy whose implications varied across individuals and situations. By foregrounding athletes’ lived experiences, this study contributes to sport nutrition scholarship by situating dietary interventions within their broader socio-cultural and performance ecologies.